Father in Tagalog

Which one to use

Use tatay for your own dad in everyday speech, both when you talk to him and when you talk about him: Si Tatay ang naghanda ng hapunan (Dad prepared dinner). Ama is the more formal "father", common in writing and speeches: Ang ama ko ay masipag (My father is hardworking). For a Catholic priest, the "Father" who says Mass, use pari, or padre in church settings.